Write Not, The King of the Jews - John 19:21

The apostle John wrote how, “they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS. This title then read many of the Jews: for the place where Jesus was crucified was near to the city: and it was written in Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin”, and in chapter nineteen and verse twenty-one of his book John wrote, “then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews” where we read:

Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews;

but that he said, I am King of the Jews.

The verse reads, “Then said the chief priests of the Jews to Pilate, Write not, The King of the Jews;” John began with the words, “then said the chief priests” which means “at that time uttered, declared and proclaimed the high and principal priests” “of the Jews” or “belonging to the people of the Jewish nation”, “to Pilate” which means “toward Pilate whose name means armed with a spear and was the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria who ordered Christ to be crucified”, “write not” or “do not inscribe or delineate or form with letters on a tablet, parchment, paper or other material”, “The King of the Jews” which means “the ruler, leader, commander and prince belonging to the people of the Jewish nation”. John shared how the “high priests” did not want “Pilate” to “write” that Jesus was the “ruler and commander” of the Jewish people.

The verse continues, “but that he said, I am King of the Jews.” John added the words, “but that he said” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover that he, Jesus, uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “I am King of the Jews” which means “I, Jesus, exist as the ruler, leader and commander belonging to the people of the Jewish nation”. John shared how the “high priests” wanted “Pilate” to change what he “wrote” to declare that Jesus “claimed” to be the “King of the Jews”.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we learn how the “high priests” among the “Jewish people” were relentless in their disowning and disavowing Jesus. They wanted “Pilate” to alter his “inscription” about Jesus to read that Jesus “said” He was the “King of the Jews” rather than actually being their “King”. “Pilate” will answer the “high priests” in our next verse, but for now let it suffice us to consider the difference between what “Pilate” wrote and what the Jewish leaders wanted him to write. This decision should be the same for every person who considers the life of Jesus. Is He the “King of the Jews” or did He only claim to be? God desires a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus who is the “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”, and anyone who submits their life to Him will be forgiven of their sins and receive everlasting life with God. Everyone else will be left to defend themselves when they discover what “Pilate” declared is true.

Next time John shares how, “Pilate answered, What I have written I have written”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".